HeartspringMethodist
Foundation

COPs

A Certificate of Participation (COP) is a time deposit very similar to a Certificate of Deposit (CD). The investment is made for one, two or three years with a penalty for early withdrawal. The rate of interest is set by the investment committee and remains fixed for the full term (until maturity).

Investments in COPs are combined to form a pool of funds used for loans to United Methodist churches and agencies. Interest income may be paid annually or semi-annually. With a deposit of $10,000 or more, interest may be paid as frequently as monthly. Details are provided in the Offering Circular. The circular and COP application may be found on the Forms page.

COP Rates

March 2018

APY

1 Year Term

1.20%

1.21%

2 Year Term

1.45%

1.46%

3 Year Term

1.95%

1.97%

COPs are appropriate for investors who:

Are seeking higher yields than money market rates

Are able to make a one, two or three year time deposit (penalties exist for early withdrawal)

Seek to invest in loans made to United Methodist churches and agencies

Investors receive their interest either semi-annually or annually at maturity. The amounts are prorated if they have been deposited for less than six months. With a deposit of $10,000 or more, an investor can receive automatic interest payments as frequently as monthly.

Yes. Approximately 30 days prior to the maturity date an investor will receive a renewal notification letter. The default option is to reinvest the interest due and renew the certificate for another term.

The Foundation’s Board of Trustees has authorized the Investment Committee to set the rate at the beginning of each month. Factors that determine the interest rate paid to investors include the interest rate earned from current loans, market conditions and rates of similar investments. The investor receives a fixed rate for the full year.

The Foundation is an agency of The United Methodist Church and its investments are not insured like bank deposits or CDs. Under strict guidelines, investment funds are loaned to United Methodist churches and institutions in the Texas Conference and secured by first mortgages on property and buildings. A liquid reserve equal to 5 percent of all investments is maintained at all times.

Certificates of Participation are time deposits and are designed to be left on deposit for the full term. Withdrawals are possible before maturity, but with a penalty. In the first year, the early withdrawal penalty is six months’ interest. For investors who have had funds in place for more than a year, the penalty is three months’ interest.